SPCZ

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 21 May 2011 01:21
Noon Position: 18 52.6 S 173 07.0 W
Course: West Speed: 1 knots
Wind: Light and variable
Weather: Overcast, showers, warm, slight seas
Day's run: 65 nm

We would appear to have run into the SPCZ, the South Pacific Convergence Zone. This is very much like the ITCZ, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, commonly known as the Doldrums, but instead of where two wind systems meet at the equator this is where the south east trade winds meet the east trade winds in a large band on the western side of the Pacific. It would now appear to be hovering over Tonga which is where we are trying to get to. There are numerous rain clouds about but very little wind and what little wind there has been has been all over the place, occasionally gusting to force 4 as a rain squall passes by.  I have had sails up and down, gybed several times, poled the jib out and employed every imaginable combination of sails but for about the last six hours have gone precisely nowhere. Va'vau is only about 30 miles away, at our current rate of progress a very long way indeed.

Patience.

All is well.